Yesterday, news broke that UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones had entered rehab, per Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports. The reason? On December 4, 2014, Jones tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite. Needless to say, this is a surprising turn for a fighter who has consistently attempted to cultivate a positive image. Also coming […]
Yesterday, news broke that UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones had entered rehab, per Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports. The reason? On December 4, 2014, Jones tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite. Needless to say, this is a surprising turn for a fighter who has consistently attempted to cultivate a positive image. Also coming […]
For a fighter competing at the highest level of mixed martial arts, time for anything outside of his direct career path can be difficult to come by. Every showing inside the cage carries important implications; therefore, an athlete has to commit to a rigorous training schedule to ensure he is in peak condition come fight […]
For a fighter competing at the highest level of mixed martial arts, time for anything outside of his direct career path can be difficult to come by. Every showing inside the cage carries important implications; therefore, an athlete has to commit to a rigorous training schedule to ensure he is in peak condition come fight […]
The sport of mixed martial arts is dangerous. Two men compete, utilizing every physical and mental tool they have, hoping to render the other defenseless. Some men endure, overcome, thrive. Some break mentally, some break physically. A few have even died as a direct result of competition. There’s no skirting the realities of the sport. […]
The sport of mixed martial arts is dangerous. Two men compete, utilizing every physical and mental tool they have, hoping to render the other defenseless. Some men endure, overcome, thrive. Some break mentally, some break physically. A few have even died as a direct result of competition. There’s no skirting the realities of the sport. […]
On June 22nd, 2012, Dan Miller returned to the octagon for the first time in nearly a year against Ricardo Funch at UFC on FX 4. Winless since 2010, it looked like Miller’s UFC future could possibly be hanging in the balance if he did not turn in a successful performance in front of his hometown crowd. But as is the typical attitude of the Miller family when approaching any fight, Dan left it all in the octagon, battering and blistering Funch en route to a third round guillotine choke win.
As it turns out, the victory was more than just a step in the right direction for Dan’s MMA career, it was an indication of where things were headed in his personal life as well.
As you all know, the reason for Miller’s prolonged absence from the octagon last year was that of his infant son, Danny Jr., who had been diagnosed with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease, a condition that would require a $100,000 surgery and $10,000 a month in medication for at least the first year in order for Danny to stand any chance at recovery. The response from the MMA community was almost immediate, with everyone from the Firas Zahabi-founded FundaFighter program to former CP Sergeant-at-Arms Mike Russell establishing avenues for MMA fans around the world to contribute to Danny Jr.’s cause. Unsurprisingly, the most significant donations to the Daniel James Miller Foundation came from UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta and president Dana White.
Well, Potato Nation, we are proud to report that not only was Danny Jr.’s surgery a success, but he is recovering smoothly as well, and has regained kidney function for the first time in over two years.
On June 22nd, 2012, Dan Miller returned to the octagon for the first time in nearly a year against Ricardo Funch at UFC on FX 4. Winless since 2010, it looked like Miller’s UFC future could possibly be hanging in the balance if he did not turn in a successful performance in front of his hometown crowd. But as is the typical attitude of the Miller family when approaching any fight, Dan left it all in the octagon, battering and blistering Funch en route to a third round guillotine choke win.
As it turns out, the victory was more than just a step in the right direction for Dan’s MMA career, it was an indication of where things were headed in his personal life as well.
As you all know, the reason for Miller’s prolonged absence from the octagon last year was that of his infant son, Danny Jr., who had been diagnosed with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease, a condition that would require a $100,000 surgery and $10,000 a month in medication for at least the first year in order for Danny to stand any chance at recovery. The response from the MMA community was almost immediate, with everyone from the Firas Zahabi-founded FundaFighter program to former CP Sergeant-at-Arms Mike Russell establishing avenues for MMA fans around the world to contribute to Danny Jr.’s cause. Unsurprisingly, the most significant donations to the Daniel James Miller Foundation came from UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta and president Dana White.
Well, Potato Nation, we are proud to report that not only was Danny Jr.’s surgery a success, but he is recovering smoothly as well, and has regained kidney function for the first time in over two years.
Danny’s mother, Kristen Miller, broke the great news over her Facebook account:
In March of 2010, he lost all kidney function. Today, September 6, 2012, Danny is now peeing again! Words can’t describe the emotion that we are feeling right now.
He’s still in the OR (operating room) but will be headed to his PICU (pediatric intensive care unit) room shortly. His new kidney function will be monitored extremely closely.
Kristin was sure to thank Kathy Miller, who donated her kidney to Danny Jr. to make the entire operation possible:
Kathy is recovering in her room. We love you so much Kathy and can never thank you enough. Xoxo Daniel James..we love you so much!
The Miller brothers were more succint with their celebrations, sending out the following tweets:
Dan: Surgery went well today, never thought I’d be so happy to see some pee!
Jim: The word is that everything has gone well with my nephew’s transplant. Both Danny and my Aunt came out strong. TY everyone for the support. Pee! My 2 1/2 yr old nephew has kidney function for the first time in over 2 years. 1 hurdle cleared, many more ahead.
Words can simply not express how elated we are here at CagePotato to hear this news, and wish the Miller family the best of luck in the future. But like Jim said, there are still many hurdles to clear for Danny Jr., so if you’re feeling particularly generous today, head over to Dan Miller’s FundaFighter page and make a donation. In the meantime, send a picture of you, your girlfriend/wife, or your smokin’ hot mom donning the Chocolate Al shirts you received to our Facebook page to show your support!
After going undefeated for more than seven years, Manny Pacquiao finally suffered a loss on Saturday night. However, according to seemingly everyone who watched the bout except two of the judges that mattered, “Pac-Man” deserved to walk awa…
After going undefeated for more than seven years, Manny Pacquiao finally suffered a loss on Saturday night. However, according to seemingly everyone who watched the bout except two of the judges that mattered, “Pac-Man” deserved to walk away from his bout against Timothy Bradley with a lopsided decision victory. Most major media outlets gave Pacquiao […]
While in attendance at the UFC press conference in which the promotion announced announced that it would be making it’s long-awaited debut in Ontario last year, I asked the company’s newly-appointed Canadian director of operations, Tom Wright, whether or not there were plans to implement any community-based programs such as in-school anti-bullying initiatives. Although it was early in his tenure, Wright told me that it was definitely something that they would be looking at and that programs such as these were some of the most rewarding he experienced as the head of the Canadian Football League Commissioner.
It’s been 19 months since Wright was hired and Zuffa announced this week that it’s planning on working with local schools in the Greater Toronto Area, where it’s Canadian branch is located, to implement a mentoring program for youth who have experienced bullying. Though it’s too early to tell, there are indications that a regular stream of fighters could speak to Toronto kids about their own experiences with bullying as youth, teachers and parents and if all goes well, it could become a implemented in schools across the country.
(Video courtesy of YouTube/ BlahBlahBlah2145)
While in attendance at the UFC press conference in which the promotion announced announced that it would be making it’s long-awaited debut in Ontario last year, I asked the company’s newly-appointed Canadian director of operations, Tom Wright, whether or not there were plans to implement any community-based programs such as in-school anti-bullying initiatives. Although it was early in his tenure, Wright told me that it was definitely something that they would be looking at and that programs such as these were some of the most rewarding he experienced as the head of the Canadian Football League Commissioner.
It’s been 19 months since Wright was hired and Zuffa announced this week that it’s planning on working with local schools in the Greater Toronto Area, where it’s Canadian branch is located, to implement a mentoring program for youth who have experienced bullying. Though it’s too early to tell, there are indications that a regular stream of fighters could speak to Toronto kids about their own experiences with bullying as youth, teachers and parents and if all goes well, it could become a implemented in schools across the country.
Ahead of this weekend’s UFC 140 event in the city, the UFC, in conjunction with the Toronto Police Services held a special event today at Saturday’s venue featuring some local fighters like Mark Hominick, Sean Pierson and Sam Stout and American fighters like bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz and ex-NFL player-turned UFC heavyweight Matt Mitrione.
During the two-hour event, which wrapped up minutes ago, students listened to short speeches by the fighters about their own trials and tribulations with bullying growing up and were given an opportunity during a Q&A period to ask the fighters questions.
Critics of the sport have been vocal of their opposition to having fighters who punch, kick and choke their opponents for a living into the schools to tell kids to not do what they do outside of competition. Ironically, the same critics have been mostly silent about local boxing legend George Chuvalo and former Toronto Argonaut Mike “Pinball” Clemons visiting schools dozens of times every year.
Toronto City Councillor Doug Ford, whose brother Rob is the city’s mayor, told reporters over the weekend that he supported the initiative and that he hoped the city would embrace the program that will help at-risk youth, but his comments were met with a furor by his fellow municipal politicians who don’t agree with the partnership with schools in the city, even if bullying is a real epidemic there.
The question is, does fighting for a living actually make a person less credible when it comes to talking to kids about bullying?
